Business Briefs

Chambers set schedules

* The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce meets Tuesday at noon at Froso's. The presentation by Kenai Peninsula Crime Stoppers is planned. Lunch is $13. For more information, call 262-9814.

* The Kenai Chamber of Commerce meets Wednesday at noon at the Merit Inn. A presentation from the Ocean Renewable Power Company is palnned. Lunch is $15. For more information call 283-7989.

Small Business Development Center plans seminars

Energy efficiency audits seminar -- Are you a local small business that wants to reduce your energy costs? Sign up for a free seminar offered by the USDA and Homer Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy advocate Taz Tally. You will learn information about energy efficiency audits, how to obtain a free energy audit, and the USDA grant and loan programs that are available to help pay for your energy efficiency upgrades. The presentation is May 27, 1 to 3 p.m. in the Red Diamond Center, Suite 12. Online registration deadline is May 20.

'Profit Mastery' 2-day seminar -- Southwest Regional Director Bryan Zak presents a two-day Profit Mastery Seminar on May 31 and June 1, from 9 to 5 p.m. To qualify for a jobs bill limited time offer of $200, you must register online and pay by May 15. After May 15, rate goes back to $395. This is a 16-hour hands-on course that will help you set goals for the future of your business, control spending and pricing and leave with a process to assess the performance of your business and a strategy to implement change.

Starting a business -- A 1-hour free "Starting a Business" seminar features Bryan Zak answering your basic questions on starting a business on the Kenai Peninsula while preparing you for a productive relationship with Alaska Small Business Development Center. Come and learn about AKSBDC and our partner programs and why you should register for our free counseling services. Times differ so check specific time for: May 25, June 7 and June 21.

To register for Small Business Development Center seminars, go to http://aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com., click "Training Events," select Center as Kenai Peninsula, search for seminar, click "Sign-Me-Up," then enter your information.

Soldotna doctor launches Good Deed Contest

Soldotna physician Dr. Lavern Davidhizar believes that many good deeds done each day are going un-rewarded and has launched a Good Deed Contest which will end on May 15. The contest is open to any youth 18 years of age or under. Children are urged to join the Good Deed Contest by submitting an essay about a good deed they have done.

Davidhizar will be giving away a brand new computer to the winner who submits the best essay. Details of Dr. Davidhizar's community events can be found at http://physiciansoldotnaak.com/index.php/category/community/.

Key4Women Appoints local business woman to national advisory board

Danielle Gabriel, secretary and treasurer of Big G Electric & Engineering Inc., in Kenai, has been named to Key4Women, KeyBank's National Advisory Board program for women in business. The board is comprised of 23 women business owners, leaders and experts from a cross section of industries across Key's footprint. It also includes representatives from the Women Presidents' Organization, the Center for Women's Business Research, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), ForbesWoman and St. Mary's College Entrepreneurship Initiative. Key4Women, founded in 2005, helps women in business achieve their goals by providing access to capital, customized service, networking events and educational opportunities. Key4Women has lent $3 billion to qualified women business owners since 2005 and committed to lending another $3 billion by 2012. The advisory board, formed in 2006, informs the Key4Women program to understand new challenges women business owners and leaders face in today's economy. The advisory board will meet twice each year, with the first meeting taking place in Cleveland, Ohio.